Cecili Sellers stands outside of her shoe store, Divas, which recently opened at Stones River Mall in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The store is named after her late mother, Kimberly Sellers. (TMP Photo/A. Duggers).

On Dec. 21, 2012, Cecili Sellers and her father teamed up to open Divas, a hip new shoe store to honor her late mother, Kimberly.

“She passed from breast cancer in July, so we got the name Divas from her,” Sellers said. “Everyone called her ‘Diva’ because she felt she was too young to be a grandmother.”

Originally from Birmingham, Ala., Sellers moved to Murfreesboro to attend Middle Tennessee State University where she majored in music business. After graduating in December 2011, she decided to stay in town.

Last year, Sellers was more than ready for a career change.

“I used to work at a day care,” she said. “I wanted to do something other than working with kids. I was worn out working with kids and then coming home to my daughter.”

Sellers said she was always intrigued by fashion, especially shoes. The idea to start a new business was something her father was immediately eager to help out with.

“My dad always wanted to go into retail. He owns other businesses in Birmingham,” she said.

The quality of shoes is part of what distinguishes Divas from other shoe stores, she explained.

“Our shoes are all shipped from Los Angeles or New York, so there’s nothing you’ll see from down South,” Sellers explained.

One of the store’s specialty shoes is the invisible heel shoe, a unique style of shoe worn often by Lady Gaga and other celebrities. Another special shoe offered by Divas is the diva flat.

“You won’t find a plain shoe in here," she said. "The shoe is going to be something different and versatile that can be dressed up or dressed down.”

Sellers said she is planning on assisting fellow MTSU students for an upcoming fashion show, and she would like to assist the community with other projects in the future.

The community is more than welcome to come by the shop at Stones River Mall, she said.

“If you want to find something that no one else has," Sellers said, "you need to come to Divas."